Jamaica’s north coast has been a golf destination since the late 1950s, and Montego Bay golf remains the heart of it. Within a short drive of Sangster International Airport sit four courses with very different personalities: two dramatic Rose Hall layouts by Robert von Hagge’s firm, a Robert Trent Jones Sr. classic at Half Moon and the historic Tryall Club to the west. Here is what to know before you go, including how the area has recovered since Hurricane Melissa struck western Jamaica in October 2025.
Rose Hall: White Witch and Cinnamon Hill
East of the city, the Rose Hall estate is home to two 18-hole courses designed by von Hagge, Smelek and Baril, the Houston-based firm led by Robert von Hagge and Rick Baril.
White Witch
Opened in August 2000 and carved from roughly 600 acres, White Witch is the more dramatic of the pair. The par-71 course climbs into the hills above the coast, and nearly every fairway, all but two, looks out over the Caribbean. Its name comes from the legend of Annee Palmer, the 19th-century Rose Hall plantation owner whose ghost is said to haunt the estate. Caddies are mandatory.
One practical note: according to Rose Hall Golf, White Witch operates seasonally, closing at the end of April and reopening on November 1, so summer visitors should plan around Cinnamon Hill instead.
Cinnamon Hill
Cinnamon Hill began life in 1969 as an H.C. Smedley design and was reworked by von Hagge’s firm, reopening in 2001 under the name Three Palms before taking its current name. It blends holes that run just feet from the shoreline with inland holes that wind through thick tropical growth and past the ruins of the old sugar plantation, including an 18th-century aqueduct. The 15th hole plays past a waterfall that appeared in the James Bond film Live and Let Die, and the 17th sits about 350 feet above the sea. Caddies are optional here, and the course is open year-round.
Half Moon: A Robert Trent Jones Sr. Classic
About seven miles east of Montego Bay, Half Moon Golf Club opened in 1961 to a design by Robert Trent Jones Sr. It is the flattest of the four courses, lined with mature royal palms and shaped more by ocean breezes than elevation. The challenge is concentrated around the greens, whose contours reward careful approach play.
Half Moon closed after Hurricane Melissa, and the resort reopened on April 2, 2026, and Half Moon confirms the golf course is operating alongside its restored accommodations, spa and dining, with further phases of the resort still to come.
Tryall Club: Montego Bay Golf History
Roughly 12 miles west of the city, the Tryall Club occupies a 2,200-acre former estate that once produced sugar and coconuts. Its course, designed by Ralph Plummer, opened in 1959, making it the oldest of the four. It was featured on Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf in 1962 and hosted the Johnnie Walker World Championship from 1991 to 1995.
Tryall’s small greens demand precise approaches, and a restoration by architect Andrew Green, completed in 2018, sharpened the course’s classic character. The club reopened on December 13, 2025, following hurricane repairs, with modifications to the fourth hole.
Practical Tips for a Jamaica Golf Trip
Getting There
Sangster International Airport (MBJ) in Montego Bay is the gateway for all four courses. The airport reopened to limited commercial flights on November 1, 2025, days after the hurricane, and has since returned to regular operations, although passenger numbers were still recovering in 2026 as some area hotels remained closed for rebuilding. Several large resorts in the Rose Hall area have announced reopening dates stretching into 2027, so confirm your hotel’s status and golf access before booking.
When to Go
January through March is peak season, with the biggest crowds and the highest hotel rates. November to mid-December often offers a sweet spot of pleasant conditions and better value, and it lines up with White Witch’s seasonal reopening. Hurricane season begins June 1, and late August and early September have historically brought the greatest storm risk, though the summer and fall months also bring the lowest prices.
On the Course
- Book caddies in advance where possible; at White Witch they are required.
- Plan hillier rounds such as White Witch and Cinnamon Hill for cooler morning tee times.
- Check each club’s current schedule directly, since seasonal closures and post-storm work can change availability.
With a Jones classic, a Plummer original and two bold von Hagge designs within easy reach of one airport, Montego Bay offers one of the Caribbean’s most varied golf trips, and its steady recovery means the fairways are ready for visitors again.